Bag-sealing device

ABSTRACT

Mechanical elastic device designed for the closing and opening of bags manufactured from flexible material an indefinite number of times via the pressure exerted by this piece (through taking the form of a Fermat&#39;s spiral) on the area of contact with the bag inserted into the same. 
     Its method of operation consists of positioning the part of the bag we wish to fasten inside the closed area of the spiral and then aligning the two hooks which the piece has on its surface until they lock together, this produces a reduction in the interior space of the spiral and, as a result, this part of the bag is tightened to remain hermetically sealed. 
     To open it one simply has to release the joined hooks with an external force, the spiral will then return to its relaxed position and we can extract the bag from the device.

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention falls within the field of the procedures used by industries for the fastening (and subsequent opening by the customer) of bags manufactured using flexible materials (plastic, paper, cellophane, etc.)

The type of fasteners to which I refer should combine the following characteristics:

-   -   They should exercise an external mechanical action on the object         to be sealed.     -   The same piece, with no alteration after use, should serve for         the opening and closing of the bag as many times as necessary.

STATE OF THE ART

The procedures currently available on the market: plastic-coated wire, adhesive tape, clamps, etc., are relatively unreliable and unsafe for the following reasons:

-   -   They do not guarantee that the interior of the bag is maintained         hermetically sealed during the product distribution process and         thereby do not ensure the protection of the content from the         external environment and the possible contamination effect or         accelerated expiry of the product.     -   The fastener can be easily manipulated and this can occur         inadvertently and unnoticed by the distributors and consumers of         the product.     -   Once the bag is opened, reclosing it in a way that ensures that         is hermetically sealed can be problematic.

PROPOSED TECHNICAL SOLUTION

The limitations and deficiencies of the bag fastening systems currently present on the market may be solved by making available a mechanism to replace them for a wide of range of uses which combines the following features:

-   -   Simplicity of design     -   Ease of use for the consumer     -   Efficiency of the mechanism     -   Safe results of the procedure     -   Low production costs in order to avoid price increases for the         product

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The fastening/opening system for bags manufactured in flexible materials which I propose is based on the tightening effect on the interior space of a piece in the form of a Fermat's spiral, manufactured using a material with the mechanical property of changing shape in an elastic manner (resilience), through the convergence of the sides on being subjected to a force induced by the movement of the end of the open branch of the outside of the spiral towards the outside surface of the closed part of the spiral, a force which is augmented by the pressure exercised by a curved appendage on the inside branch of the open end and maintaining itself in this position through the coupling of hooks which are incorporated into the piece.

Description of the Form of the Device (FIG. 1):

The piece will be manufactured using a material which has the mechanical property of resilience. The piece of this material will take the form of a band (with the width and thickness appropriate for the type of bag) and will be molded into the shape of a Fermat's spiral, but with the following modifications to its design compared with a conventional geometric shape:

-   -   The inside branch of the open end of the spiral will end with an         appendage which curves towards the center of the spiral (1),         which it will compress on closing.     -   The outside branch of the open end of the spiral will be shorter         than the inside branch of the same end of the spiral (2).     -   The outside branch of the open end of the spiral will have a         hook on the tip of its point (3) and FIG. 3.     -   On the outside surface of the closed part of the spiral there         will be a hook (4) and FIG. 3, located at a distance from the         tip of the curved end which will be proportional to the         fastening pressure (the greater the distance, the greater the         pressure the piece will exercise on the bag and the more         hermetic the seal).

The Fastening/Opening Procedure Phases are as Follows:

-   A FIG. 1     -   The part of the bag to be tightened should shift from the inside         of the spiral from the initial position indicated in (5) to the         final position as indicated in (6). -   B FIG. 2     -   When the hook on the open branch (1) moves towards the position         of the hook on the closed branch (2) both will fit together in a         stable manner by virtue of their shape and the pressure exerted         in opposite directions at the point of contact, thus having         produced a reduction in the interior space of the spiral and, as         a result, the object located in the space indicated in (3) will         be subjected to pressure from the sides of the spiral. In this         manner the secure fastening of the inserted bag will be         obtained. -   C To release the contact between the hooks it will only be necessary     to apply an external force on the piece and, given its elasticity,     one will then be able to separate the hooks and extract the part of     the bag inserted into the spiral, and in this manner the bag will be     ready for opening. -   D It will be possible to position a tape on the surface of the     spiral for the purpose of improving the safety. This would make     opening and manipulating the bag more difficult, thus ensuring the     integrity of its content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrating the explanation of the invention are included in the following figures:

FIG. 1: A top view of the bag fastening device in the state prior to its use, without a bag yet being inserted.

FIG. 2: A top view of the bag fastening device in the state in which the hooks have joined and with the bag now inside.

FIG. 3: A perspective view of an example of the hook for the device.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The explanation of the invention and the observation of the drawings in the figures present a preferred embodiment of the invention, describing the elements which comprise the device in a sufficient manner and the manner of operation of the same. 

1. Bag-sealing device characterized by taking the form of a Fermat's spiral (FIG. 1), having an appendage curved towards the center of the spiral on the tip of the inside branch of the open end of the spiral (1) and including on the tip of the outside branch of the open end of the spiral (2) a first hook (3) and a second hook (4) which locks together with the previous one and is located on the outside surface of the said branch on the closed part of the spiral.
 2. Bag-sealing device as recited in claim 1, characterized by being made of a material which has the mechanical property of changing shape in an elastic manner (resilience).
 3. Bag-sealing device as recited in claim 1 in which, for the purpose of adjusting the pressure exerted on the bag positioned inside it, the form described is modified by the following procedure: the more the length of the outside branch of the open end of the spiral (2) is reduced the greater the pressure on the bag. When the aforementioned length is increased the pressure on the bag is reduced.
 4. Bag-sealing device in which the act of closing (FIG. 2) consists of both hooks (1) (2) locking together through the action of a pressure exerted on the spiral after the bag has been introduced into the interior of the same (3) and the act of opening the bag also consists of the action of pressing on the spiral to unlock the hooks.
 5. Bag-sealing device as recited in claim 1, characterized by the resulting shape of the device when the hooks are locked together providing a smooth form which permits the positioning of tape over the same, for the purpose of making the manipulation of the bag more difficult and protecting its content. 